Heat-conserving system



Oct. 19 1926. 1,603,631

F. MUNHOLLON HEAT CONSERVING SYSTEM Filed March 28, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Timl- 1 h h f g 1,1 58; 9 1.1:? Z? 4 Q's-.1: -01 a U a wwzufo: FRANK M UNHDLL an,

w s all FRANK I/IUNHOLLON, 0E CLEVELAND, OHIO.

I-IEAT-CONSERVING- SYSTEM.

Application filed March 28, 1923. Serial No. 628,257.

My invention relates to a heat-conserving system adapted for use with pottery kilns and the like, and has for its object the provision of a method and means for operating 5 kilns, tti'u'naces and the like in a more economical manner than obtains at the present time. 7

My improvements will be explained and described in connection with a plurality oi 10 associated pottery kilns adapted for cooperative successive firing, or concurrently as a battery of kilns wherein the heat from the chimney stacks is returned to the system either for preheating a cooler kiln or for assisting the firing of any particular kiln or kilns of the group or battery;

ll may best describe my improvements in connection with the typical installation of a pottery kiln of well known type adapted for firing by solid fuel, as shown in the accon'ipanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a pottery kiln equipped with my improvements,

Fig. 2 is a transverse view thereof on line 2-2, llig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a somewhat diagran'nnatic view illustrating my improvements as specifically applied to a group or battery ot-three such pottery kilns as adapted for co-ordi nated and economical firing.

'llnroughout the several figures of the drawings I have employed the same character of reference to indicate similar parts.

lt is well understood that in the operation of kilns or 0th appliances requiring high degrees of heat there is required a considerable expenditure and relative waste oi such heat in bringing the firing chamber to the desired operative temperature. Moreover,

in firing structures 01 this general class, it

is recognized that large losses oi heat are incurred through the normal functioning of the chimney stacks. Accordingly, it is my purpose, as will be apparent from the ex planation of my in'iproveinents, to overcome these wastes and losses in large measure and generally improve and control firing conditions.

A kiln a having a plurality grates 7) for heating its firing chamber 0 (Fig. 1) is best shown in Fig. 2 with a system of piping (Z positioned in the chimney stack 0 in'nnediately above the perforated arch c. This piping is shown in Fig. 1 as connected from but one of the eight inlets from header f,

merely for the sake of disclosing the preterred lllSJllltLtlOIl for the kiln in question tor uniting each inlet to its corresponding outlet to the lower or hot air header Pipes g are connected from the hot air header to valve-controlled outlets g, 9 respectively above and below the grates Z) or the eight L provided for heating the firing chamber 0. it may be explained that the illustration of the piping in the chimney stack,as Well as the connecting headers and exterior piping, is purposely grammatic character merely for the sake of clearness, since the details are of relatively minor importance.

The ilshaped headers f and g are respectively connected to mains 71 and i; the former being provided with a connection it to a blower (not shown) for supplying air to the main, or other suitable heat-conveying medium may be supplied to the system. Suitable control valves i, h, are interposed between the mains and headers, so that the heat-conveying medium may be directed throughout the system in accordance with current working conditions. For the purposes of this explanation, we may term the inlets as the cold air main and header and the exits or outlets as the hot air main and header for each or the combustion or firing chambers shown.

lVhen one of the combustion chambers has been fired by lighting some or all of its fire places or furnaces, and a temperature approximating 500 F. has been established therein, the system of pipes (Z, positioned above the perforated arch and partially pro tected from the direct action of the heated gases, will necessarily take up a considerable portion or the excess or otherwise wasted heat. Accordingly, a circulation of air is established trom the cold air main and header and this heat may be advantageously returned to the firing chamber a from the hot air header through the pipes g and outlets g, 9 above and below the grates Z). It is apparent that solid iiuels need not be used, but other fuels may be substituted therefor and burned in conjunction with the hot air supply as above explained, if it be so desired.

In the event that another firing chamber is to be started, a material conservation of fuel and heat may be effected by directing the heat-conveying medium from the hot air peripherally disposed furnaces made of somewhat dia,

7 may be protected against excessive ditions require main 2' to its corresponding header 9 of an adjacent tiring chamber, as from chamber A, assumed to be the one under firing conditions, to chamber B or C (Fig. 3), which is assumed to be ready for firing. On the othor hand, the'hot air may be diverted or any other iiulustrial purpose through the outlet pipe 2', it it be so desired, instead ot' partially heating another firing chamber, as above explained. It will be appreciated that greater adaptability is insured for a system equipped and operating as above explained, for the reason that the heated air may be employed. as controm time to time, both as a supporter of combustion in preheated condition to return the heat to the "furnace fired and to preheat adjacent combustion chambers at one and the same time. This secures economies in operation and insures the largest possible supply of heated'air, as compared with a system incapable of thus distributing the heat-conveying medium, or one relying; solely upon the diversion of the highly heated gases from the stack.

In order to protect the system of piping; (Z in the event the blower accidentally steps or if the air supply is inadequate, l have provided a connection for steam or water at controlled by the valve j, whereby the pipes heating. Moreover, I also provide a vent valve k, which may be opened to permit the escape of air or vapors from the pipes d.

Having; now set forthapparatus explanatory of my invention and its preferred mode of operation as typical of my improvements, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, together with such modifications as may be made by mere skill, the following 1. The herein described method of operating a plurality of firing chambers, which consists in firing one of said chambers, directing an unvitiated combustion-supporting heat-conveying medium through said cnamher to preheat its air supply and to an adjacent firing chamber, whereby the excess or waste heat in the first-named firing is availed of partially to heat the second firing chamber, substantially as set forth.

2. T he herein described method or conserving heat in a battery of firing chambers, which consists in firingone of said chambers and directing; air currents through said chamber to afford a preheated supply of air for combustion and to another firing chamber in unvitiated condition, whereby the heat from the first-named chamber may be employed partially to heat the second liriug chamber, substantially as set forth.

hemp;

o. The con'ibiuation with a firing kiln having a firing chamber with a perforated arch covering the same, of a system of pipes positioned above said arch in the exit to the chimney stacl-z or said firing chamber, and means for directing a heat-conveying medium through said system of pipes, substantially as set forth.

l. lhe combination with a combustion chamber in apparatus of the general class described, ot a system of pipespositioned adjacent to said combustion chamber intermediately o its chimney stack, two headers connected 1 ctively with a plurality of inlets and cm s to and from said system of pipes, said exits connecting with the air supply for said chamber and with an eaten nal chamber, and means associated with the inlet header for supplying a llQlt-COHVGYiBg medium thereto and through said system of pipes to the exit header thereof, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a combustion chamber in apparatus of the general class described, of a plurality of the places pe ri herally di posed about the lower portion i said chamber, a system of pipes positioned in the upper portion of said chamber, intermediate nieaus for protecting said pipes, two tors com cted respectively with a pluralit of inlets and exits to and from said system of pipes, men is for supplying air to the inlet header, and connections from the exit header to the several lire places, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a plurality of associated combustion chambers, of a system of pipes positioi'ied in each to encounter the waste heat, means for directing a heatconveying medium through any of said pipes, and mains connecting said combustion chambers, whereby the heat conveying medium may be directed to any associated combustion chamber to support comluistion and aid in heating it, substantially as set forth.

7. The coml'iination with a combustion chamber, of a heat'conveying system associated with its exit fine, a perforated arch positioned below said flue, a second chamber adapted to be partially heated by said system, and means tor circulating a heat-conveying medium from said con'ibustion chamber to the sccond-named chamber, whereby excess or waste heat may be conserved, substantially as set forth.

in testimony whereof I do now ailix my signature.

FRANK MU JHOLLON. 

